Monday, March 24, 2008

Went into Manchester today with a mate of mine. They've added a fresh Hell to the Oxford Road Station experience: automatic ticket barriers.

I don't have a problem with automatic barriers in themselves, it's just that these barriers don't accept the local travelcards and season tickets. So while us passing trade slip through the gates the regulars, like my mate, have to queue up to get one of the officials to pass them through with a dummy ticket.

"How will you get back in to get your train home?" I ask.

"There'll probably be a rope bridge and a sudoku puzzle," he replied.

I overheard one of the project implementation team asking station staff how the gates were working.

"Really good. People are getting off at Deansgate instead of here now."

My trip back was not uneventful. I got in with quarter of an hour to go for my train and I looked for it on the board. There are five platforms at Oxford Road Station. My train was scheduled to depart from platform — . Nipping across to the potential platforms wasn't any use: the train didn't appear on any of the announcement boards there. In the end I guessed that "platform dash" was probably platform 5. It turned out to be correct: twenty-four people asking the driver: "which train is this one?" led him to make an impromptu announcement from the engine steps.

That he made the announcement he did is a testament to the man's professionalism.

About Me

Kevin Musgrove was born, twice, in 1933 and then once again in 1937.
He first gained world-wide fame as a noted Latin American dancer aboard HMS Ark Royal; later as Dame Thora Hird's body double in the little-known Russ Meyer movie "Make Me A Nice Cup Of Tea And A Jam Lardy Pussycat!"
He partnered the late Wallace Beery in the successful International Pro-Celebrity Ker-Plunk team that was narrowly defeated by the all-conquering Sandi Shaw-Clement Attlee combo.
Kevin Musgrove was last seen singing excerpts from "Rosemarie" in a haslet foundry in Nuneaton.

How it is, like...

Live from the Betty Page Observatory, Sheboygan

Stuck for words?

What Tarot Card Are You?

You are The Hermit

The Hermit points to all things hidden, such as knowledge and inspiration,hidden enemies. The illumination is from within, and retirement from participation in current events.

The Hermit is a card of introspection, analysis and, well, virginity. You do not desire to socialize; the card indicates, instead, a desire for peace and solitude. You prefer to take the time to think, organize, ruminate, take stock. There may be feelings of frustration and discontent but these feelings eventually lead to enlightenment, illumination, clarity.

The Hermit represents a wise, inspirational person, friend, teacher, therapist. This a person who can shine a light on things that were previously mysterious and confusing.

I must have been doing the cat's shoelaces when this lot came a-calling.